 ZITTERMAN, SHIRLEY JEANNE Age 81, a former resident of Albuquerque, passed away November 28th at home after a 3 year struggle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Shirley was a leap-year baby, born February 29th, 1932 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Doris and Christian Arnesan. As an infant, Shirley was adopted by her beloved adoptive parents Frances and Ashton Wing and she had very fond memories of her childhood being raised by them in Holly Hills, FL. As a young teenager, Shirley moved back to NY to live with her biological mother and new stepfather Harold Berckhemer. Shirley graduated from Bay Ridge High School, Brooklyn, NY, in 1950. In high school, Shirley was a member of the Social Dancing club, the volleyball club and was a class secretary. She and Joseph Zitterman were married on February 13th, 1954 in Queens, NY, and they settled in East Meadow, Long Island, NY, in 1961. In 1965.Shirley became a licensed X-Ray Technician by the State of N.Y. Department of Health and she spent her professional career in NY as an office / medical assistance. Shirley and her husband moved to Albuquerque in 1979 after he retired from the NYPD. After moving to ABQ, Shirley worked for Honeywell and following her employment with Honeywell, she worked for APD until the summer of 1994. In Las Vegas, Shirley began working for the Las Vegas Metro Police Department in January 1995 and she retired from the LVMPD in January 2008 at age 76. Shirley had a lifelong passion for fashion, fashion design and sewing, and, had aspired when she was young to be a fashion designer. She was an accomplished seamstress who could make anything from a nightgown to a wedding gown and everything in between. In the early 1970s, Shirley developed another passion playing tennis. In 1975, she entered and won a contest whose prize was one tennis lesson with tennis great Billie Jean King; Shirley was thrilled beyond belief. Shirley was a long time fan of the music of ABBA, and more recently, of Celine Dion. During her retirement years, she continued playing tennis and sewing into her late 70s, enjoyed reading true crime books, collecting tea cups, watching the old black and white Hollywood classics on the TCM channel, visiting the white tigers at the Mirage and playing scrabble at the Lifestyle Center on Cheyenne Ave. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Joseph; brothers Eddie Cardinale and Walter Arnesan. She is survived by her children Eileen DiGiorgio of N. Las Vegas, NV, Sharon Zitterman, William (Butch) Zitterman and Nancy Swass, all of Albuquerque; her grandchildren John Joseph DiGiorgio, Justin Schrader, Melissa Kuglar, Lisa Zitterman, Samantha Wise, Crystal Simpson, Jenaya, Gabrielle and Mariah Swass; brother Fred Arnesan of South Ozone Park, NY, and, 8 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her devoted cat of 15 years, Jade, who will continue to be cared for by Eileen. Shirley was an extraordinary woman who lived her life with grace and dignity. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. A Memorial Service is being planned to take place in Las Vegas in December. Details to follow. Palm Downtown Mortuary 1325 North Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89101, is in charge of the arrangements.
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